Spring Turkey is only 3 and a half months away.

[Wacenturion]

 

[Intruder]

Yelp and Wacenturion,
I tend to agree with you regarding the NWTF.  Overall, I believe in some of organization's goals but I don't believe they are run very well.  Yelp... I'm guessing your concerns are related to the situation that occurred 2, 3 years ago in a small town just west of Spokane. 

I've been a sponsor on several occasions and was an active chapter member for several years.  But I've gotten frustrated with a lot of the stuff that's occurred with NWTF.  They've done some real good work but I just don't trust them to spend my donations well.  I still am a member but I will not sponsor them anymore.   

[hornhunter]

 Man, Im looking forward to this year. We are  planting some new food plots this year too.   Spitting and drumming is my favorite Turkey sound!........................mostly because you have to be close to hear it!!  6 weeks to hunt is pretty cool, it aloows alot more flexability with your hunts.

[Wacenturion]

Yelp and Wacenturion,
I tend to agree with you regarding the NWTF.  Overall, I believe in some of organization's goals but I don't believe they are run very well.  Yelp... I'm guessing your concerns are related to the situation that occurred 2, 3 years ago in a small town just west of Spokane. 

I've been a sponsor on several occasions and was an active chapter member for several years.  But I've gotten frustrated with a lot of the stuff that's occurred with NWTF.  They've done some real good work but I just don't trust them to spend my donations well.  I still am a member but I will not sponsor them anymore.   

Intruder......I think you have pretty well defined it.  I too believe in some of their goals.  I think the NWTF like many National Conservation organizations that have come onto the scene since the 70's, have forgotten what their core mission was....or should I say it got clouded by the almighty buck.  Everything is a gimmick to get additional dollars instead of focusing on what's really important.
Yelp and I have also put in our time and money over the years only to collectively come up with our own inside joke......NWTF....."Not Worth The Frustration".
Just don't like the games, treatment of volunteers, reluctance of taking on the WDFW when necessary, behind the scene politics, and weird monetary control tactics the Federation brings with it to mention a few.  However I do wish them well, particularly the members who give of their time and money.  Just wish they were appreciated more.  But then again, the Federation doesn't have to worry if someone disagrees....there is always someone else out there ready to get involved for some free turkey glasses and "you're just the guy we need to run the chapter" pat on the back.
Been there, done that......DONE!         

[yelp]

hornhunter what kind of foodplots...where are you planting...timing...can you fill me in.  Sounds like you own land or are leasing. 

[Turkeyman]

Been there done that. Frustrating good luck.......

[turkeyhunter]

I am going to keep coming back until I find one person on this site that has something positive to say, Sorry you guy's have had such a terrible time with the NWTF. I am still sort of new I will have to wait a few years and see if I get the same treatment...In the mean time keep hunting, and remember that Gobbler you hear opening morning as your sitting in your favorite spot waiting for everything to come together would not have happened without volunteers that wanted to see it happen and an organization that made it happen....Getting ready for the State meeting Saturday morning and a Banquet in Vancouver the same evening. I will post the the outcome of the event when I get back and also the number of people I ticked off...Have a good day

[yelp]

I am going to keep coming back until I find one person on this site that has something positive to say, Sorry you guy's have had such a terrible time with the NWTF. I am still sort of new I will have to wait a few years and see if I get the same treatment...In the mean time keep hunting, and remember that Gobbler you hear opening morning as your sitting in your favorite spot waiting for everything to come together would not have happened without volunteers that wanted to see it happen and an organization that made it happen....Getting ready for the State meeting Saturday morning and a Banquet in Vancouver the same evening. I will post the the outcome of the event when I get back and also the number of people I ticked off...Have a good day

Well Dave part of your statement is true but in my opinion not all.  Volunteers were an important part of the process, but the history of WA turkey releases didn't always involve the NWTF..I will let Wacenturion comment to that more.  I hope you are a more effective and successful RD too.  Just remember that all of your successes aren't yours it was made possible by volunteers giving of their time.  They don't get paid like you do.  They have to find the time first of all and then give it to make you successful.  Good luck.

[Intruder]

Turkeyhunter,
I do not want to speak for anyone else but I in general have a (+) opinion of the NWTF.  They have done some great work in WA and around the country.  I still support them from a membership perspective and absolutely love that part of their mission statement addresses preservation of "hunting heritage" which to me separates them from many orgs.

My criticism is generally related to what appears to be a loss of direction and focus as well as organizational inefficiencies.  Adding to that, the org is based back east so there is far less focus on the west (understandable based on the membership base).  With the reestablishment of birds throughout the country the org seems to be struggling to find it's way. 

Hopefully you can have a positive impact and bring some fresh perspectives and renewed energy to the NWTF.  A sincere best of luck to you!!! 

[turkeyhunter]

Thank You Intruder, You hit the nail on the head, As a primarily Eastern based company they do lose sight on what we need here in WA. I am trying to turn that around and let them see how the other half lives. The State meeting is on Saturday and the PR guy from South Carolina will be attending. I hope he is prepared for what he is about to receive......Thank You again for the response

[yelp]

Eastern based company

That is the problem....It is now thought of as a Company....Not a non-profit 501-c.    

[Wacenturion]

I am going to keep coming back until I find one person on this site that has something positive to say, Sorry you guy's have had such a terrible time with the NWTF. I am still sort of new I will have to wait a few years and see if I get the same treatment...In the mean time keep hunting, and remember that Gobbler you hear opening morning as your sitting in your favorite spot waiting for everything to come together would not have happened without volunteers that wanted to see it happen and an organization that made it happen....Getting ready for the State meeting Saturday morning and a Banquet in Vancouver the same evening. I will post the the outcome of the event when I get back and also the number of people I ticked off...Have a good day

Sorry, but I have to respectfully disagree with you.  The Wa. chapter system (local chapters) was built on the already agressive turkey introduction program that was iniatated in the mid-80's and continued till 2000.


The new chapters and growing statewide turkey hunting interest did help in a PR way, but with or without the NWTF the releases would have occured.  Remember the full chapter system in place today wasn't up and running until well into introductions and after they were done.  Most of the Rio and Merriams were already out there and generating a surge in turkey hunting.  Approximately 1/2 of the current chapters were on board and starting to make money when Washington got into the last of the eastern releases from Iowa.  Easterns from Pa. and Missouri had been released in the 80's and early 90's.   In fact the NWTF at the national level got their fingers into whole operation and turned the agreements for birds between state F&W agencies into financial fiasco.

History lesson for you all'............It did not cost upwards of $500 a bird(easterns...others less), until the NWTF got in the middle of the efforts going on between states, sometimes trading, most times nothing required in trade...states were just glad to help.  Along comes the NWTF and gets involved in setting up a system of values whereby the receiving state's superfund (i.e. Washington) transfers super fund dollars to the donating state (i.e. Iowa...in the case of easterns sent) @ $500 a bird. 
These costs by subspecies were determined after the federation queried the NWTF technical reps. (state turkey bio to the nwtf) what it cost to trap and transfer birds.  Pretty nonscientific estimates at the least.  Then low and behold a new middle man NWTF system came to be....with a percentage cut for administrative costs going directly to the NWTF, above and beyond the transferred super funds.  In the case of a state(i.e. Washington) not having those kind of dollars available to buy a large number of birds due to chapters just really coming on board, the NWTF, out of the kindness of their heart loaned the money on paper....of course with an additional interest charge.  Like the Iowa super fund needed more money.....all of those Wa. super fund dollars that went to pay for birds could have been spent on other things.


So, for the sake of being correct............ It was the direct result of your own Department's turkey program and those of Oregon, California, Idaho etc. that brought you turkeys and the rest of the west the excitement of the "gobble" you all enjoy today.

Now before you get excited, I'm not saying the NWTF Chapters and their volunteers don't do great things by their support and all their time they give.  What I am saying is that like many conservation organizations that started with the right intent and purpose, much of that at the national level has been blurred over the years by the almighty dollar.  Just fact.  Why do you think there are all these extensions like multiple memberships depending on how many banquets you attend each year, WITO, Jakes, Wheeling Sportsmen  etc.  Great programs to say the least, especially Jakes, but designed for the most part to get additional membership fees.    Why not have these programs without menbership costs?  Superfund dollars would cover them.  Sorry to be blunt, but god forbid we get to a "Pets in the Woods" program.  Just food for thought.


Oh....and typical for the NWTF to try to leave the impression they did it all.  Think about it.....for one the NWTF doesn't even have the power or authority to release birds in different states.  Geez....give me a break.   

[strutnrut1984]

i was a member back east for about 20yrs never had any bad experiences, im actually looking for a chapter to join in my area.

[yelp]

strutandrut... Look up WANWTF or the NWTF Website...I believe there is the Whatcom County Chapter.

Wild turkeys aren't native like back east...Bringing in wild stock and releasing them so that we can have a huntable population took a lot of work and effort by a lot of people.  Not only a huntable populaiton but three seperate huntable subspecies within one state.  The NWTF came in after the fact, yet they like to claim that they are the reason for every turkey in every tree.  The banquets were fun....I like some of the programs (Wheelin sportsman, JAKES) they offer, but I was involved for 10 years and after ahwhile it reminded me of a cult following...and like in a previous post mentioned if you didn't drink the koolaid well you were a problem...Just stating the fact that the NWTF's roots are still in South Carolina not in Washington State. 

Turkey hunting is still relatively new here in Washington so we have lots of new excited hunters and we have great opportunities in the field because of the efforts of several people who wanted an opportunity to hunt wild turkeys in Washington State someday.


I feel bad that we hijacked this thread.....later.

[strutnrut1984]

sorry u guys are so bitter guess ill keep to myself